Signaling device



1945- A. D. BAKER 2,391,559 WM S IGNALING DEVICE Filed 001;. 12, 1942 lNVE NTO R l fllfieri .12 Baker Z i M 2b ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 25, 1945 UNITED SIGNALING DEVICE Albert D. Baker, Linden, N. .L, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application October 12, 1942, Serial No. 461,661

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to sound signals adapted for use on motor vehicles and has for an object to provide means for controlling sound output volume of the sound signal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a volume control for a sound signaling device which will permit a low volume output when the vehicle is stationary or moving at a relatively low speed, and give a full volume output sound when thevehicle is traveling above a certain speed or to engine acceleration.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for automatically controlling the sound volume output produced by the signal device in response tothe moving speeds of the vehicle or to engine acceleration.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a valve' mechanism which is controlled by air currents produced by the engine cooling fan, that will automatically control the sound volume of the device in response to engine operating speeds.

Another object of the invention is to provide electromagnet means, energized upon operation of the signal devices, for preventing a valve which controls the volume output of the signaling device, from fluttering when closed so that the signaling device will be sounded with full volume.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a signal device embodying the present invention with certain parts in section and showing the parts in their normal positions.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the parts in operating positions when the signal is capable of producing full volume tones.

Referring to the drawing 20 designates a sound signal having a collar 2| provided with a central opening or throat leading into a hollow projector 22. The collar 2| is provided with a flange, not shown, which cooperates with a diaphragm, not shown, to form an air compression chamber from which sound vibrations start when the diaphragm is oscillated. The flange of the collar 2| supports a cover 23 to provide an enclosure for a magnet tacts 25 and 28, the latter being grounded and the former being connected with the magnet coil 24.

Since the present invention contemplates to control the sound output volume of the signaling device the projector 22, which is attached to collar 2|, is provided with a lateral opening 30. The opening is surrounded by a tubular bushing 32 so that the interior of the projector communicates with outside air through the bushing 32 and the bushing is attached to the projector in any suitable manner. The outer end of the bushing 32 serves as a valve seat 33.

A valve mechanism for opening and closing the opening 3| to automatically control the characteristics of sounds emitted through the projector 22 is here illustrated as an air actuated vane type, and is designed to be pivotally mounted on the projector 22 and preferably placed in the air stream produced by the cooling fan of an internal combustion engine. The valve mechanism comprises a vane which is attached to an arm 4| of a bell crank lever 42. The lever 42 received within a notch 43, provided by a block 44, is pivotally mounted upon a pin 45 extending across the notch. The other arm 46 of the lever 42 is provided with two projections, one projection supports a valve 41 made of rubber or other suitable yieldable material for closing the passages 30, 3| and the other projection supporting an armature 48 which is attracted by an electromagnet 50. The electromagnet in this case is supported upon the projector.

The electromagnet 50 comprises a winding 5| confined between two insulating sleeves and disposed about a core 52, said core and winding are located within a cup 53 of cylindrical formation having its bottom 54 apertured to receive a reduced portion 55 of the core 52. The cup is in the present instance attached to the projector 22. The vane 40, valve 41 and armature 48 are normally held in the positions shown in full lines in Fig. 1 by a resilient member 56. The resilient member shown is a coil spring having one end attached to a lug provided by the projector as at 51 and having the other end attached to a bolt 58 adjustably supported by the arm 4|, the spring tending to pull the vane toward the projector and then hold the valve 41 away from the opening and the armature 48 from the core of the electromagnet 50.

When the electromagnet 50 and the valve mechanism are assembled with the projector 22, the completed structure will be substantially as indicated in full lines of Fig. 1, where the circuit connections are graphicall illustrated. These circuit connections include a battery or other current source 60 grounded at GI and having a lead 63 connected to the sound signal motor through a relay 64 comprising a magnet winding 65, an armature 66 and normally spaced contacts 61 and 68, the latter of which is connected by wire 69 to the signaling device or horn terminal 10. The magnet winding 65 is connected to ground through switch I! comprising a button 12 provided with a conductor 13 to bridge a contact 14 with a grounded contact 15.

When the switch H is closed relay winding-65 is connected to ground thereby energizing relay 64 effecting the engagement of contacts 61, 68 thereby connecting the signaling device and the electromagnet 50 with the battery through the following circuit: battery 60, contacts 61, 68, armature 66, lead 69, terminal 10 from whence the current will divide; one portion passing thro si na mag w nding 24 and contacts 25 and 26 to ground while another portion will pass from the terminal 10 through lead I I, winding 5| of electromagnet 50 and thence to ground.

When the engine is not. operating the vane will J mmy the position shown in full lines .in Fig, 1. When the engine isoperating under normal conditions and the moving speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined amount, air currents Droduced will cause the vane 40,, valve 41 and armature 48 to. occupy the positions shownin dot-anddash lines with the valve 4'! spaced from the seat 35. The armature is also spaced a sufiicient distance from the core so that the magnet will not attract the armature. Under those conditions the opening 30 is open to outside atmosphere. and when the signal device is operated thesignal pro duced will be of low volume.

, When the speed of the vehicle attains, for-example, to miles per hour, the engine, cool,- ing fan creates a blast of air, indicated by arrow 80, that is strong enough to move the vane 40 into the position, shown in Fig. 2, causing the valve 4,] to close the opening 30 and the armature 48, will engage the rivet head 82 carried'by the core 52. Under those conditions, when the signal is operated the magnet is energized to attract strongly the armature thereby causing the valve 41 to be firmly seated on the seat 35. The action of the magnet prevents the. valve from flute tering against the seat thereby causing the signal to give a loud full sound volume output.

While the present invention shows the, electromagnet and the vane mounted on the projector, it is. to be understood that the vane 40 and electromagnet 50 may be mounted relative to th projector 22, so that the vane will swing; the valve over the opening and the armature in position so as to be attracted by the magnet.

From the foregoing description of the construction and mode of operation of the present invent n of. controlling the sound. v lume of signaling. devices, it is apparent that only onesignal device is needed to give a relatively weak note during normal conditions of city driving and to cause; said device to sound with full power when driving; in the country and only who-tithe car is moving ab e a certain sp ed. t wh n his desired toacce-lerate the engine.

This; type of volume control for signal devi e may be preferred for all vehicles especially those lriven at all hours of the day and in very congested districts or through quiet districts such as school districts or hospital zones, where the signal device should not, be sounded with, full volume. Thus, should the vehicle be driven at a high rate of speed through the quiet districts and the signal device operated the volume sound of device would immediately inform the operator that he is driving too fast for safety in that district.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a signalin device the combination of an electrically sound producing device; a projector attached to the device and having main opening and a lateral opening leading to outside air; a valve seat surrounding the lateral opening; an electromagnet; a vane pivotally supported relative to the projector and carrying a valve and an armature; a current source; a switch for connecting the device and the electromagnet with thesource causing the device to be operated and the coil of the electromagnet .to be energized when the switch is closed; air currents produced by the speed of the vehicle for actuating the vane in one direction to move the valve toward the Seat and the armature adjacent the core of the magnet, said air currents when below a certain value will so. position the valve and the armature that the valve will not engage th seat to close the opening and the armature will be spaced from the attractive force of the magnet causing the, device to produce a sound of a certain tone and when said air currents attain the certain value the value will engage the seat and close the opening and the magnet will attract the armature thereby causing the valve to be firmly held against the seat and prevent the valve from fluttering whereby the sound so produced will be changed; and spring means for moving the Vanev in the opposite direction as the air currents recede.

2. Control means for modifying the tones of a signaling device for a vehicle including in combination; a projectorhaving a main opening and a lateral opening attached to the device for directing sound waves therethrough; a seat about the lateral opening; a movable vane supported relative, to the projector and located in a path oi air currents produced by a fan driven by the engine of the vehicle; an ,electromagnet; a. valve carried by the vane adapted to engage the, seat so as to close the opening when air currents of certain values are capable of moving said vane a certain distance; an armature carried, by the vane normally held out of the attracting region of the electromagnet and moved by the Vane toward the electromagnet, the electromagnet being connected in an electrical circuit. and energized when the signal device is operated, the energization of the. magnet attracting the armature only when. the. armature is within the. attracting region, said armature when attracted causing t valve to be moved fir y ainst, the. seal. and close the opening whereby the tone character of the device is changed and the valve, is prevented from fluttering,

In. a vehicle sounding si nal device. having the combination of a hollow mem r pr vided with a main opening and a lateral opening leading tov outside air; a seat about, the lateralopening; an electromagnet and a vane supported relative to the hollow member; an armature and a valve having connections with the vane saidvane being pivotally mounted and responsive to air air on operation of the sounding signal device;

spring means for moving the vane, armature and valve in the opposite direction as the air currents recede; a source of current; circuit connections for the source, sounding signal device and the electromagnet for connecting same in a circuit; and a switch in said circuit, said switch when operated to close the circuit the sounding signal will be operated and the coil of the magnet will be energized to attract the armature and thereby firmly hold the valve against the seat 20 and keep same from .fluttering when the air current impinged against the vane has reached the certain value, the connection between the armature and vane being such that when the air currents are below the certain value the armature 25 will be spaced from the core that the attractive force thereof will be inefiective to attract the armature and thus prevent the valve from enaging the seat to close the opening.

4. The combination with a vehicle signal de-- vice provided with a sound directing projector having a ported seat; of means dependent upon the vehicle speed for varying the tone of the signal device from one of low volume to one of full volume output, said means comprising a biased vane actuated in one direction by air currents roduced by the speed of the vehicle, and a valve member for engaging the seat to close the port whereby the signal device will be conditioned to produce a full volume output when operated, said valve being moved against the seat by the vane only when the vane is moved suificiently in said direction by the air current; an electromagnet; and means connecting the electromagnet in a circuit when the device is operated, said electromagnet operating to prevent the valve from fluttering once said valve is against the seat to close the port.

ALBERT D. BAKER. 

